Madhya Pradesh farmers protest: The protests, that began in Mandsaur of Madhya Pradesh after five farmers were killed allegedly in police firing, has started spreading to other areas in the state.

Madhya Pradesh farmers protest: The protests, that began in Mandsaur of Madhya Pradesh after five farmers were killed allegedly in police firing, has started spreading to other areas in the state. (PTI image)

Madhya Pradesh farmers protest: The protests, that began in Mandsaur of Madhya Pradesh after five farmers were killed allegedly in police firing, has started spreading to other areas in the state. Though Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had announced a compensation of Rs 1 crore each for the families of five farmers, it failed to pacify the farmers. Violence were reported from Mandsaur and Dewas districts prompting the Narendra Modi government to send 1,100 anti-riots police personnel to tackle the situation in affected areas. Apart from CM Chouhan’s announcement, the state government had announced a loan-settlement scheme. The BJP government had said the scheme will cover around six lakh farmers with total dues of Rs 6,000 crore. The farmers have been protesting since June 1. They had demanded higher minimum support prices (MSP) for their produce and loan waiver among other things. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is expected to visit Mandsaur today. According to report, the district administration will not allow him to meet the family of those killed during farmers’ agitation.

Curfew was imposed at Pipaliya Mandi area and section 144 is still on in place even the strike called by Congress drew mixed response. Apart from Mandsaur and Dewas, violence were reported from Ujjain, Khargone and Sehore district. Protests were held in Sanwer and Simrol areas of Indore.

Meanwhile, a political slugfest had erupted over the incidents with Congress training its guns on BJP governments in the state and at the Centre. Congress had flayed the Narendra Modi government and termed the killing of five farmers in police firing as coldblooded murder. It had claimed the BJP was acting as a curse of death for Indian farmers. Th party also criticised BJP for not allowing Rahul Gandhi to meet the families of the victims.

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BJP, however, rejected the allegations saying there was conspiracy behind the ongoing protests. Rural Development Minister Narender Singh Tomar said that farmers of Madhya Pradesh are peace-loving and they do not indulge in violent activities. There is a conspiracy behind this entire incident, he had said.

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A five-member delegation of the AAP will meet farmers in Mandsaur on Friday. The delegations will have senior party leaders Sanjay Singh, Ashutosh, Somnath Bharti, Bhagwant Mann and Sadhu Singh.

It has been learned that the state human rights commission has also sought a report on the firing. A two-judge bench of the commission will hear the matter on June 23, according to Indian Express report.